Looking Back: Forreston Reformed Church blessed with ties that bind

Even though trials and tribulations faced Forreston Reformed Church throughout its history, dedication and determination always saw it through.

Harriett Gustason

Even though trials and tribulations faced Forreston Reformed Church throughout its history, dedication and determination always saw it through.

Stan and Karen Ludwig of Forreston thought it fun that the church was once called “The Rooster Church.” That, they said, was simply because the first church had a rooster on top of the steeple. The Ludwigs provided copies of the church’s histories published for the 100th and 125th anniversaries.

These books testify to the enduring devoutness and dedication of the congregation. Like every institution, there were a few times recorded in the history when differences arose and people left the fold, but through it all, this congregation of predominantly Dutch-German origin has survived as a tight-knit and progressive body always involved in humanitarian missions.

The church was actually started by a group of eight people. Yes, only eight people actually got the church going. The precise date has not been determined as records from its first days have not been found. The earliest records found are dated 1865. Some historians have thought the church was founded as early as 1861; others believe 1862, but 1863 has been established as the actual year of founding, that being in the heat of America’s Civil War.

The gutsy little group which formed Forreston Reformed had separated from the Silver Creek Reformed Church of German Valley because they wanted a church closer to their homes, states a history compiled by member Earl Ratmeyer and the Rev. Jim Stralow, pastor at the time. Family names of that first determined eight founders include Heeren, Brower, Denekas, Smidt, Reetsma, DeWall, Abels and Gronehagen.

Interesting is the fact that surnames of those first members, at least five generations back, are still found on the church roster. Stan Ludwig is one of those members who believes his ancestry in the church goes back that many generations. The Ludwigs said all their children and grandchildren were baptized in the church, and both of their sons married there.

Oh, the changes
Going back 150 years, men, to look verile, had facial hair — with many stylish variations, some with goatees, some encircling the entire lower half of their faces. With some, you wondered how they ate with their bushy mustaches. On some of them you couldn’t tell they had a neck from the front view.

Women had to dress much more modestly. Even in the 1940s, women felt compelled to wear hats in church, even gloves. My, how times have changed.

From whence they came
The founders of this church were known as East Friesians. They came from a German lowland province adjoining Holland, and these people considered themselves distinct from all other Germans. Their language was as much related to the Dutch tongue as to the German, and their church affiliation was reformed, rather than Catholic, Lutheran or Evangelical.

Those who settled in what is now Ridott Township made up the first East Friesian settlement in America. They were independent thinkers right from the start.

Early on, one group became dissatisfied and separated itself from the Reformed organization. It evolved into the Forreston Grove Presbyterian Church. The departure left only 20 members of the new church; but, it is explained, “Their number soon increased and they enjoyed a steady growth.”

They spoke the Dutch
The first pastor of the church was the Rev. J.H. Karsten, a Hollander. Services were held in the Dutch language, and the minutes of the governing body and congregation during that time were written in the Dutch language. During 1866, the meetings were held in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Forreston.

That same year, however, this independent little group bought ground and built a church of its own. Members had to borrow $500 at 15 percent interest to help pay for it. The church was completed that same summer and dedicated “to the service of God” on July 22.

The Rev John Mueller, pastor of the former “Mother Church,” Silver Creek, participated in the service of dedication. The Rev. Carster served the church from 1865 to 1867. The Rev. J.B. DeVeer came next. Records were still kept in the Dutch language “and though there were disagreements, the work prospered.” A new parsonage was built during this time.

During 1871 and ’72, there was no pastor for them, but the church was served by other area pastors. The meeting minutes were written in German during this period and continued to be used until 1920 when it was changed to English. That change was likely the result of the anti-German tension during World War I.

Andy Dvorak of the history department at Highland Community College wishes to correct the common conception that the removal of the German identity on many things in this country during World War I was done out of soft sentiment. He said these actions actually came out of fear of violence from enraged citizens. He said there was much violence, vandalism and destruction of property in America during that time to anything that might possibly suggest pro-German sympathy. Changing the name of German Valley at that time was a case in point.

Leadership came and went
Some two dozen or so pastors came and went over that century and a half, each engendering new programs and improvements. Some stayed only a few years. Some remained many. New Sunday school classes were formed; new missions developed.

In 1906, the congregation decided to enlarge and improve the church building. On July 22, 1906, just 40 years after the first building was dedicated, members consecrated an addition to the church, new electric lights and a bell in the steeple.
The Rev. J. Mulller, who helped dedicate the first building, was present and officiated at the service.

In 1919, during the pastorate of the Rev. J.G. Theilken, the present church building was erected. It was built exactly like a church Rev. Theilken had come from in Wellsburg, Iowa, the history states. In 1925, a new parsonage was built and about that time “Mr. and Mrs. Lewis DeGraf donated the beautiful Himer’s pipe organ that is still in use,” stated an article from the June 16, 1988, Forreston Journal.

In 1925, under the leadership of the Rev. H. Hunneman, a new parsonage was built, and during this time, the German language was cut to just one service each month. The next year even that was discontinued.

Besides the language differences, there were customs that were difficult to change. During those early days, the congregation had segregated seating with the women on one side and the men on the other.

We didn’t see a date when that was changed. We wonder when that was. Could it have been following World War II when women were taking their place in commerce and industry? Up until about that time women were expected to wear hats and even gloves to church and were identified by their husband’s name.

In June 1957, the Rev. C.W. Muyskens was called. On June 13, shortly after his arrival, a ground-breaking ceremony marked the beginning construction of an annex to the church. The dedication ceremony was held Jan. 21, 1959.

Good days for Forreston Reformed
One source of pride for the congregation is the fact that three cousins, Roland, Harlan and Luther Ratmeyer, all went on to become ministers. A number of members have also gone on to become professional musicians.

Well, after time passed and other changes took place in the pastoral leadership, the church welcomed the Rev. James Stralow in September of 1982. The esteem they held for him is apparent in the wonderful scrapbook the congregation prepared for him 27 years later on his retirement. Members created illustrated pages for it with their favorite photos, souvenirs, sayings or symbols illustrating their memories of their association with him and his wife. JoAnn. Creativity blossomed. Each page is a delight in itself. It is filled with “Memory pages created with love and gratitude from your friends at Forreston Reformed Church.”

Today Tim Fry, a student at Western Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Mich., is serving as pastor at Forreston Reformed Church. He has big shoes to fill, but it’s a sure thing he is received with open arms.

Meanwhile, after 150 years, the church continues to thrive and grow.

The anniversary celebration will feature a concert of skilled musicians. It will be at 6 p.m., Sept. 28. Among the performers will be Delmar Lohr on the piano and Davis Folkerts on organ.

Harriett Gustason is a writer for The Journal-Standard. She can be reached at 815-235-3855 or hg3855@comcast.net.